A lot to this name game

By Martin Johnson

12:01AM GMT 11 Nov 2002

It is hard to say whether Monty or Seve would be any less charismatic if they had different names, or indeed whether Tiger Woods would have quite so many noughts on his sponsorship contracts if he had gone through life as an Eldrick. And let's be honest, would Archibald Leach have sold as many cinema tickets as Cary Grant? Or Marion Montgomery as John Wayne?

There is rarely much of a gallery flocking to get a glimpse of yesterday's long-time leader Bradley Dredge, a nice chap and a fine golfer but then hardly the possessor of a magnetic name. Changing your moniker, Hollywood-style, is a bit drastic, so maybe his agent will get him to wear a silly hat, like Jesper Parnevik.

It is not difficult to work out why galleries are attracted to certain players and not others. If, for example, you were to sit on a whoopee cushion on Retief Goosen's backswing, you wouldn't get much in the way of interaction, but (and this is not an invitation) try it with Colin Montgomerie and the entertainment potential is limitless.

The European Tour certainly breeds fewer characters these days, largely because every event attracts vast amounts of swag, no matter how turgid the field. Furthermore, the endless practice and travel routines required to play golf at this level are a bigger test of a boredom threshold than natural talent, which perhaps explains why so many Swedes are so good at it.

It is becoming increasingly rare to happen across an exciting golfer who also appears to be enjoying himself, which is why Nick Dougherty has the potential to become one of the Tour's next big draw cards. The ex-Walker Cup player and the 2002 Rookie of the Year looks far too cheerful to be a pro, but who knows? He may yet set a new trend.

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Dougherty could hardly have enjoyed racking up a four-day total of 21 over par this week, though Valderrama is a tough test at any time never mind in yesterday's blustery wind, and a 77 from an English golfer around here was a good deal more acceptable than a 79 from an entire cricket team.

Despite an impressive first season as a pro, his former Walker Cup captain, Peter McEvoy, recently accused him of under-achieving. Dougherty admitted that when he first read the comments he was "a little put out" but quickly realised that McEvoy was - by way of reminding him how much natural talent he possesses - making a backhanded compliment.

"He was right to say I can still become even more professional in the way I go about things, but I can honestly say I only get a real buzz out of winning, or trying to win, and am not out here to fanny around in the comfort zone. But I'm 20 years old, I travel the world, and I love playing golf. It's a fantastic life, so why wouldn't I look happy about it?"